In the unofficial vote totals in Tuesday’s Bartholomew County primary election, the Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. referendum has won approval with 61.3 percent of the voters giving their nod.

Dr. Jim Roberts, BCSC superintendent, reacts to the win.

With the win, the school district will be able to apply a property tax increase of just under 16 cents per $100 of assessed value. 87 percent of the new revenue would go to raise pay for teachers and staff in the school district, with the rest going to safety improvements in the district.

Roberts, says this is a win for local education efforts and for quality of life in the community.

Former Columbus police chief Jon Rohde has won the Republican nomination for Superior Court Judge with almost 32 percent of the vote.

He defeated fellow Republicans Scott Andrews with 28 percent of the vote, Dom Glover with 21 percent and Joe Meek with 18 percent.

No Democrats have filed to run for judge in the November election.

Tony London has won the the race for Bartholomew County Commissioner District 3 on the Republican ballot with 42.5 percent of the vote, pulling ahead of Dan Arnholt who led for much of the night’s vote tallies including the larger group of absentee votes.

It wasn’t until the last two sets of vote center tallies came in that London pulled ahead.

Ultimately, Arnholt finished with just over 40 percent and JoAnne Flohr had 17 percent in the three-way race.

London reflected on his nail-biter of a win.

When the first round of absentee early vote totals came in, London was behind. But he said he saw that he was winning among those who cast in-person early votes.

London said the COVID-19 restrictions required a change in his campaign strategy..

London said he is already planning for the fall election.

Republican County Commissioner Larry Kleinhenz will also move on to the fall election. He was unopposed in yesterday’s primary and no Democrat has filed to challenge him this fall.

Updated: 9:15 p.m.

In the unoffficial vote totals in today’s Bartholomew County primary election, the Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. referendum has won approval with 61.3 percent of the voters giving their nod.

With 16,643 ballots tallied, former Columbus police chief Jon Rohde has won the Republican nomination for Superior Court Judge on the Republican ballot with almost 32 percent of the vote.

Tony London has won the the race for County Commissioner District 3 on the Republican ballot with 42.5 percent of the vote, pulling ahead of Dan Arnholt who led for much of the night’s vote tallies.

County Council at-large incumbents Bill Lentz, Matt Miller and Evelyn Pence have won the race for the Republican nominations for those three seats, over four other competitors.

On the Democratic side, Dale Nowlin has won the race for the State House District 59 spot with 55.2 percent of the vote. He will challenge Republican State Rep. Ryan Lauer again for the fall election.

According to the count from the Bartholomew County clerk’s office, 8,310 people cast their vote by mail-in ballot, with 2,011 voting early at Donner Center last week and Monday. 6,322 cast ballots today at one of the eight Bartholomew County vote centers, which gives a voter turnout of just over 32 percent.

Press Release

Columbus Mayor Jim Lienhoop along with Columbus Chief of Police Michael Richardson and the Columbus Human Rights Commission have released the following statements below in regards to the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota last week.

Columbus Mayor Jim Lienhoop stated:

“The tragic, senseless death of George Floyd and the violence that has occurred since are disheartening for all of us. Mr. Floyd should not have died. The procedures employed to subdue and restrain him were not only unnecessary, they have no place in professional law enforcement.”

“As we react to his death – and champion the pursuit of timely justice – it is important that we listen closely to those who are peacefully making their voices heard. They carry an important message that all of us need understand. Unfortunately, that message becomes more difficult to hear when we must also react to lawlessness. The notion that we focus on the message – and not be distracted by destruction – was a cornerstone of the nonviolent approach advocated by Dr. Martin Luther King. His counsel was wise then, it is critically important now.”

“It is essential that we maintain communication with those in our community who have questions and concerns and we will do so. I am also extremely proud of our men and women at the Columbus Police Department. Our police department does not teach or tolerate the procedures used in this case. In the alternative, we emphasize de-escalation as a primary practice and our officers will continue serving our community with the compassion and professionalism that we expect.”

Columbus Chief of Police, Michael Richardson:

“The actions of the four officers in Minneapolis are unacceptable and sadly resulted in the tragic and unnecessary death of George Floyd. I want to emphasize that the events that took place in Minneapolis do not reflect the values of the men and women of the Columbus Police Department who risk their own safety each day to protect everyone in our community.”

“We have worked hard over the past several years to build and maintain confidence and accountability with the community we serve. One important step in this process was the implementation of a body worn video camera program. While some law enforcement agencies are struggling to implement a body camera program, CPD officers have been using this important and necessary piece of equipment since 2015.”

“Another crucial step to maintain trust with the community was taken when the Columbus Police Department joined a small percentage of police agencies across the country when we initially earned CALEA accreditation in November, 2014. CALEA (Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies) provides impartial third party oversight to ensure that the Columbus Police Department establishes and practices the internationally recognized best standards for law enforcement. CPD also maintains state accreditation through the Indiana Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission (ILEAC).”

The Columbus Human Rights Commission:

“We are deeply saddened and heartbroken by the death of George Floyd and so many before him. Their deaths should prompt the community to pause and reflect how racism affects all daily life. We grieve alongside their families, friends, and community. Together, we must play a role in demonstrating compassion, dignity, and respect throughout our community, as neighbors, co-workers, and parents to foster a more welcoming community.”

Poll workers at the Bartholomew County Courthouse are tallying record numbers of mail-in votes today, in a race to get that completed by this evening.

County Clerk Jay Phelps says that there have been more than 8,000 early votes by mail-in ballots and 2,000 early votes by voting machine at Donner Center over the past week. Crews from the clerk’s office have taken over Judge Worton’s courtroom to tally all the votes.

Polls close at 6 this evening.

5:45 p.m. update

Long lines stretched across the parking lots of some local vote centers this afternoon. Donner Center voters were in a line stretching from the main doors of the center almost to 22nd Street, while Flintwood Wesleyan voters lined up across the parking lot.

Bartholomew County has had three more deaths from COVID-19.

According to the most recent update from the Indiana State Department of Health, Bartholomew County has 521 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and has had 38 deaths, an increase of three deaths since yesterday’s 35.

Statewide there are 35,237 total confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Indiana, an increase of 430 cases since Monday’s report.

There have been 2,022 deaths in Indiana as of this afternoon’s update, an increase of 46 deaths from the previous numbers.

In other area counties, Decatur County has had 225 cases and 31 deaths, Jennings 131 cases and 4 deaths, Jackson 394 cases and 2 deaths, one more death since yesterday’s numbers, Brown 33 cases and 1 death, Johnson 1,117 cases and 110 deaths, an increase of 1 death and Shelby 375 cases and 22 deaths.

The 2020 primary election is underway, a month later than normal. In Bartholomew County, you can cast ballots at one of 8 vote centers until 6 tonight.

Those vote centers will be at at Flintwood Wesleyan Church, Donner Center, Terrace Lake Church, Elizabethtown Fire Station, Ogilville United Methodist Church, Hope Moravian Church, German Township Fire Station and St. John’s Masonic Lodge.

Most Bartholomew County voters will be deciding on a referendum for Bartholomew Consolidated Schools to raise teachers’ pay, as well as the Democratic candidates for this fall’s Statehouse race and Republican races for Superior Court judge, County Commissioner and County Council at large.

Bartholomew County Clerk Jay Phelps talked recently about the health and safety procedures in place during this election.

He said that voting machines will be sanitized after each use, as well as poll equipment such as pens and the poll books. He said the secretary of state has provided personal protective equipment for poll workers.

Phelps said that voters can not be forced to wear masks, but for the safety of others, he hopes they will decide to do so.

Phelps said the county had to dramatically scale back the number of polling locations this election after many elderly poll workers decided to bow out due to health concerns related to the pandemic. In the last countywide election, there were 18 voting centers.

Jonesville area farmers are trying to get reimbursed for damages done to their fields during a police chase last month.

The farmers brought the issue to the attention of the county commissioners Monday morning, saying that they had seen thousands of damages to their crops after first the driver, and then deputies and Columbus police drove through the fields near County Road 850S.

County Commissioners President Carl Lienhoop said that he expects the farmers will get reimbursed one way or another, either through the car owners’ insurance, or through a claim to county government. He said he couldn’t promise the farmers would get $4’400 in damages, but it is the commissioners’ hope that they will see the money.

28-year-old Nathan S. Wiley was arrested after the hour long chase on May 16th, which started in Columbus when he allegedly hit a tow truck attendant in an SUV stolen from an Indianapolis car lot.

Farmer Curt Burbrink said about two miles of the chase went through five farmer’s fields. He said he hoped authorities would adopt a policy that would discourage chases through farm fields, especially when the vehicle is already nearly disabled.